Heart of Clay (27 page)

Bobbi walked out of ICU with Dr. Fisher.
They both looked at Callan and smiled.

“Callan, did you get some rest?” David
asked, not convinced that she had.

“Yes, I did. I brought some things with me
so I can stay here, though. I don’t want to leave Clay again.”

David nodded. “We’re running short of beds
in ICU and since Clay is doing so well, I’ve decided to have him
moved this afternoon to a private room. Even though he’s still in a
coma, I think you all will be more comfortable with him there. How
does that sound?”

“Wonderful.” Callan grinned at the
doctor.

“I’ll let you know as soon as we’re ready to
move him,” David said, before walking back into ICU.

The move to a private room went well and
Callan was so pleased at what the room offered. After having
crowded into the tiny little space in ICU among all the beeping
machines and equipment, the private room seemed so spacious. A
window looked out on the landscaped lawn below. A private bathroom
with a shower, a recliner, and two other chairs rounded out the
room along with Clay’s bed and all the equipment that trailed along
with him.

Once the doctor settled Clay and the nurses
were sure everything was fine, they allowed Callan, Bobbi and Steve
all to enter the room.

Callan stood next to the bed and softly
rubbed Clay’s arm, telling him about the move, how nice the room
was and how much he would enjoy it when he woke up. She bent over
him and positioned her mouth close to his ear. “Come back to me,
Brick. I need you here.” Placing a soft kiss on his forehead, she
moved so Bobbi could stand next to the bed.

The next day, Callan returned from taking a
walk to get some fresh air to find the biggest, prettiest
arrangement of flowers she’d ever seen in the room. The card said
it was from Mrs. Horner, Callan’s client whom she had toured around
the convention center the day before Clay’s accident.

With the card still held in her hand, she
told Clay’s parents about Mrs. Horner and her reaction to seeing
Clay. Steve smiled at the story, but tears flowed down Bobbi’s
cheeks. Callan bit the inside of her cheek to keep from joining
her. After giving Bobbi a hug and squeeze, Callan went outside to
call Mrs. Horner and thank her for the bouquet.

Over the next several days, bouquets,
balloons and cards poured in until the room looked like a florist’s
shop.

Callan finally asked the nurses if they
would like some of the flowers for their workstations, or to
brighten the waiting room areas. All but a few of the bouquets were
soon removed.

One afternoon, Big Jim arrived with little
Audrey and Emma in tow. Callan turned the corner in the hallway
after taking a walk to stretch her legs when she saw them. The
little girls appeared subdued, coached by their great-grandfather
to use their indoor voices and be very quiet.

Callan hugged both girls close and glanced
at her dad. “Are you sure this is a good idea, Daddy? I don’t want
to frighten the girls. Clay looks a lot different than what they
are used to seeing.”

“I know, sweet daughter, but they begged and
pleaded to come see their Uncle Clay. We talked about how he got
hurt in lots of places and can’t talk to them. They know they have
to be quiet. They also know that Uncle Clay can hear them and would
love that they came to visit him.” Big Jim nodded his head
encouragingly at Callan, trying to convince her it was a good
idea.

Callan got down on her knees and pulled a
girl close in each arm, speaking quietly to them. “Uncle Clay and I
so appreciate your visit, girls. He’s sleeping right now and he
can’t give you a hug today, or smile at you, or even open his eyes.
He’s hooked up to lots of wonderful machines that are helping to
make him all better, so he looks a little different than you are
used to. I don’t want you to be afraid of the machines or Uncle
Clay. He’s still the same Uncle Clay inside and he loves you very
much.”

Callan stood and took a little hand in each
of hers. “Now, let’s be very, very quiet, and you can say hello to
Uncle Clay.” She walked into the room with Audrey and Emma as Big
Jim followed them.

Bobbi sat in the room, relaxing in the
recliner. She looked at Callan and then Big Jim in surprise, but
plastered on a warm smile for the girls. “Hello Audrey and Emma.
How nice of you to come see your Uncle Clay. Did you have a fun
ride with your grandpa?”

The two little girls nodded their heads,
their eyes fixed on their former big playmate so quiet and still in
the bed. Callan walked to Clay’s bedside and picked up Audrey while
Bobbi picked up Emma. They held a girl on each side of bed. Both
girls were completely silent, their little eyes growing huge as
they took in the equipment, Clay’s bruises, and stitches.

Finally, little Emma reached out a tiny hand
and softly patted Clay’s cheek. She leaned over in Bobbi’s arms and
put her rosebud lips close to Clay’s ear. “Uncle Clay, Audrey and I
comed with Gampa to see you. We miss you and wants you well so you
can play with us some more. We loves you.”

Audrey patted a spot on Clay’s arm that
looked safe and whispered “We love you lots, Uncle Clay. Please get
all better.”

Callan and Bobbi set the girls down and
swallowed back their tears. Callan smiled at them. “How about if we
take you to the cafeteria and get some ice cream while Grandpa
stays with Uncle Clay? Would that be alright?”

Both little girls nodded their curly heads
and walked to the door with Callan and Bobbi. Big Jim sat down in
the chair by the bed and started telling Clay a story about a
fellow he once knew who hit his head on a post and didn’t wake up
again for three days.

As he dreamed of Callan, Clay felt the
lightest touch on his cheek. He could hear a soft, little voice in
his ear. Was that Emma or Audrey? He wondered what the girls were
doing. Where were they? What were they saying?

Straining to hear, he finally understood
their words.

Get well.

Was he sick? Is that why he felt so
strange?

Clay felt waves of pain roll over him as he
struggled to reach awareness. He clenched his hand then fell back
into the painless oblivion.

Big Jim was in the middle of a story when he
glimpsed Clay’s hand clenching the blanket. He hurried out to the
nurses’ station and let them know. Mary, the nurse who had been so
kind to them since the first day, hustled into the room and checked
Clay’s vital signs.

She made notes on the chart by his bed, but
shook her head at Big Jim. “Sorry, Mr. Carver, but he’s not showing
any other signs of coming out of the coma. Don’t give up, yet,
though. Moving his hand was a great sign.”

When Callan and Bobbi returned with the
girls, Big Jim told them what he saw. Bobbi and Callan were both
encouraged. The girls each wanted to tell Clay goodbye, which they
did with quiet whispers in his ear, then Emma placed a sticky kiss
on his stubbly cheek.

Callan hugged each of the girls and thanked
them for coming then gave her dad a hug. “Thanks for bringing them,
Daddy. I really appreciate you making the effort. It was great to
see you and them.”

“Anytime, sweet daughter.” Big Jim gave
Callan a peck on the cheek. “Don’t you worry about this boy. He’s
going to be just fine. You mark my words.”

Fifteen days after the accident, Clay
remained in the coma. Although he healed well physically, Callan
grew discouraged. She knew in the grand scheme of things that it
hadn’t been that long since he’d been in the coma, but, oh, how she
missed him.

She went home for a night’s rest, but found
she couldn’t sleep when she spent most of the night worrying about
Clay. With the convention center a good hour’s drive from the
hospital, Callan decided to swing by that morning and pick up work
to take with her.

She found a mountain of papers piled on her
desk and was making headway through the stack when Jill popped into
her office.

“Callan, this is the last place I thought to
find you. You don’t need to be here. Rachel and I can take care of
this.” Jill waved her hand toward the shrinking pile of
paperwork.

“I know, but I need to feel useful and like
I am doing something productive,” Callan explained. “I’m just here
for a little while this morning. I can handle a lot of this from
the hospital. How are things going? I’m so sorry to not be here
during one of our busiest seasons.”

“Don’t give it a second thought. Things are
running relatively smoothly. If something comes up only you can
answer, I’ll call you or send an email. Will that work?”

“That would be great.” Callan packed up some
files and glanced at her watch. “Send email first. I don’t get
great cell service at the hospital and I’m limited on access areas.
I better get going. I told Bobbi I’d be back right after
lunch.”

Callan stood and walked toward the door with
Jill. They gave each other a warm hug. “Let us know if there is
anything we can do,” Jill said.

“I will. Thanks again.” Callan hurried out
to her car. She was almost to the hospital when her cell phone
rang. It was Dr. Fisher.

“Hello, this is Callan.” A call from Dr.
Fisher meant something great or something terrible had
happened.

“Callan, I’ve got some wonderful news,”
David said enthusiastically. “Clay woke up and said one word. How
far away are you from the hospital?”

“I’m just pulling into the parking lot. I’ll
be there in a minute.” Filled with excitement, Callan couldn’t keep
a smile from lighting her face with unbridled joy. “What did he
say, David?”

“Laney.”

Clay felt weak beyond anything he’d ever
before experienced. Everything hurt or ached. Some pain was fiery,
other pounding and throbbing. His tongue felt thick and heavy while
his head was fuzzy.